First time posting, on Suboxone?

I'm posting from Australia as I've been reading through some threads and thought this place might be good for me to post in.

I was taking over 60 Nurofen Plus tablets a day for over a year and thankfully found the courage to seek help. I'm now currently on Suboxone 8mg every second day then 16mg for the weekend. Seems like it's dispensed differently over here, I have to dose at the chemist.

Just wanted to say hi and hoping I can get to know some of you and find support in one another, as even though the Suboxone helps, I still struggle and feel like crap a lot of the time!

Responses (1)

Welcome to the site Sarah. I think you will find that there are some wonderful people on this site who are or have taken Suboxone. We are a close knit bunch and enjoy supporting eachother.

That is an unusual dosing schedule, but as Suboxone is a long acting med I guess that is why it is working. You mention not feeling well alot of the time. What is the problem, mental or physical in nature? Are you receiving any addiction's counseling along with the medication therapy? It is highly recommended as part of the recovery program while taking Suboxone.

As people wake up on this side of the world, I'm sure you will here from some great people. Hang in there!!

Thanks for the welcome Laurie! I've been reading through a few threads/questions and have seen that there are many nice, understanding and supporting people on here, which was the reason I decided to join up :)Well, it was one of the first things I noticed upon reading through here, that the way Suboxone is dispensed and dosed varies greatly from the US and Aus. Over here, once I managed the courage to see a Dr about my massive codeine intake and addiction, I was referred to the local Drug and Alcohol support clinic, which is all free of charge. I receive monthly counseling and Drs visits. I tried a gradual reduction plan first because I was told if I stopped cold turkey I would put myself at huge risk, because of the massive amounts of tablets I was taking, my body would've gone into shock and I could've died.

Anyway, I tried the gradual reduction for a couple of months but kept relapsing so they started me on Suboxone (even though my counsellor doesn't like putting people on it), 4mg a day to find my correct dose then once stable I went to second daily dosing of 8mg. I take 16mg on Fridays and that gets me through til Monday (well, it's meant to).The counsellors and Drs at the clinic like to have people dosing every second day as it encourages the addict to regain control of their days/life and not have it so focused on downing tablets all day.

I have been finding lately that on the days that I don't have my medicine I am extremely tired and have no energy to even do the dishes. I have two children and just recently had my boyfriend move in (who is very supportive and not a drug user)... so having no energy really affects my daily life. I find that as soon as I start losing the buzz that my Suboxone has given me, I start to look forward and almost hang out for my next dose. This is what I hate about being an addict, the long waiting out and hanging out.My legs get achey and I get goosebumps on my non dosing days, and it just pisses me off because the whole point of being on this program is for me to start leading a more productive life and I just thought it would be easier than this. It was good at the start but after being on the program for about five months now it's almost like it's not holding me for those two days.

Sorry for such a long post but these things can't be explained in just a few words lol

well, I can only share that Suboxone is a long acting med and hence why they can suggest the everyother day and long weekends, but keeping a steady dose would be easier on the body, I would think. My doctor recommends only being on the Suboxone 3 to 6 months, but some people stay on it alot longer than that. I wish I had a solution to your low energy days, but as long as your body is dependent on the opiate in Suboxone, it is going to be this way. Hopefully through the program you are attending, you will be able to overcome this soon.

Thanks Laurie :) I actualy asked my pharmacist today and talked to him about my low energy. I have a fantastic relationship with the chemist and he gave me some high energy multivitamin so hopefully that should help.Thank you for your comments! The main worry I have with being on Suboxone is that I will become "trapped" and stuck on something. But, as you say, that's what counselling and Drs are for, and thankfully from what I can tell the medical system in Australia is fantastic comapred to a lot of other countries. Thanks again!Also, is there a forum part of this site where people can just converse about a similar topic or is there just this Q&A part?